Photo/Cindy Merchant
Northborough – This season, many Northborough seniors who are alone or impoverished will receive some holiday cheer thanks to the “Be a Santa to a Senior® “ program. Sponsored by the Northborough Home Instead Senior Care® office, the program brings together businesses, volunteers and members of the community to provide gifts and companionship for lonely and isolated seniors.
“It is heartbreaking to think of the senior members of our community spending the holidays all by themselves, without any gifts or any way to celebrate the season,” said Laurie Bender, owner of the Home Instead Senior Care office serving Northborough. “But all too often, that’s what happens when seniors live alone. It can be a really tough time of year for them.”
Home Instead Senior Care has partnered with Northborough Senior Center and Central One Federal Credit Union to help with the gift collection and distribution.
A Be a Santa to a Senior tree will be located at Central One Federal Credit Union, 148 Main St., Northborough through Friday, Dec. 12. The tree will feature ornaments with seniors’ first names and their gift requests. Holiday shoppers can pick ornaments from the tree, buy the items listed and return them unwrapped (and with the ornament attached) to the bank.
Program partners and volunteers will wrap the gifts and outreach workers from the Northborough Senior Center will distribute the gifts to local seniors who might otherwise spend the holiday alone.
“During this season of giving, we encourage shoppers to buy a little extra for a local senior,” said Bender. “Your gift – and more importantly the visit that comes with the delivery – could make their holiday season.”
For more information about the program, visit BeaSantatoaSenior.com or call 508-393-8338.—
